An Introduction to Libraries and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees - becoming an OH&S Committee Member

3. What is Your Place: Becoming an OH&S Committee Member

This is the third and final article on Joint OH&S Committees, after which we’ll take a break from OH&S and explore other library related topics. There’s still a lot to go into about libraries and safety, such as the prevention of violence in the workplace and risk assessments.

Workers may face challenges upon joining a committee, such as committees that are entrenched in pre-existing workplace dynamics. 

There are committees that are performative and perfunctory in their function, and fulfill all the requirements without addressing ongoing safety issues or concerns. Questions intended to better understand a situation or the history of an issue may be met with defensiveness or phrases such as “we tried that already”.

There are even committees that are openly hostile. In this scenario, people use this stage to display a breakdown of respect and communication. They may also make blanket statements that are factually incorrect or used to shut down discussion. 

This can feel shocking, confusing and leave members coming out of meetings exhausted and with a sense of futility.

Members skilled in conflict resolution or de-escalation, something many library workers have experience with from working with the public, can be beneficial. Such as calling out factual inaccuracies, asking reasonable questions, remaining calm, or depersonalizing conflict.

Another way to address this is though a committee evaluation, depending on the regulation requirements. For example, during an annual evaluation, you can use the metrics to assess the function of a committee. Worker representatives do not necessarily need to agree with the employer’s evaluations.

Worker representatives should meet to prepare for joint meetings. You will need to discuss issues and agenda items in advance. Other benefits to meeting as worker reps include: ensuring that newer members understand what’s happening, workers with direct experience are prepared to speak to in issue, training is shared back with the group, and tasks or actions are assigned. If you are not able to meet during work time, this could be addressed during the next review of the Committee Terms of Reference.

OH&S is a tool, and an OH&S committee is meant to be a collaboration between workers and the employer to improve health and safety. Sometimes, though, the collaboration is theoretical. As part of the committee, you may have to engage with conversations that are very confusing or uncomfortable. But, getting to evaluate safety in the workplace through the OHS lens will help you develop critical skills and experience with navigating systems that can actively work against you.

To wrap up, here are some ways to think about sustainability and how as an individual, you can engage (and just as importantly) disengage from this work. Action, solidarity, and organizing are some of the core principles of unionized work. However, it’s important not to feel that you are bearing individual responsibility for the work around safety.

Sustainability means:

• Creating a long term strategy when dealing with multiple systemic big issues, so that you can address things without being overwhelmed
• Taking training that applies to the issues you will be dealing with
• Remembering to acknowledge progress, regardless of how big or small
• Developing skills to not take personally the harmful actions and words from others
• Recognizing that feelings of demoralization and harm are sometimes intentional and are intended to discourage your work

An exit strategy means:

• Knowing what you want to achieve 
• Knowing at what point you are ready to leave, ie. after specific goals have been met or after a specific time frame
• Being honest with members joining the committee about what committee work is like
• Giving agency to those who take over from you to continue the work as they see fit

What’s next for a worker considering joining an OH&S Committee?

• Find a JOH&S Committee member and ask to meet or for a phone call. Let them know you aren’t sure where to start or that you are interested in knowing more about the Committee.
• Ask your Union about how you can join the committee through nomination or appointment. 
• Look up the provincial website of your workplace safety governing body to understand the basics and the terminology.
• Know how much you can put into this work, know when you want to leave, and know who you can count on for allyship.